they do this because they signed a pledge to grover norquist. that's why they're willing to shut down the government. they're not taking an oath to the constitution of the united states but an oath to grover norquist. if you do things like that you shouldn't have the right to try to continue to shut down the government and use the debt ceiling as a weapon. >> finally, congressman, there are reports the president may ask congress for $50 billion for hurricane sandy, you know, to cover costs of relief and rebuilding. do you expect that to even be held hostage as well by region sn -- republicans? >> yes, do i. >> so no agreement on fiscal cliff, no agreement on debt ceiling, no agreement on this either? >> that's because they are obstructionists. they've turned the win into a partisan political instrument. they've turned the weather into a partisan political instrument. we have a solution to thisç 37e have introduced a discharge petition. we think that we shouldn't be holding the middle class hostage. everyone agrees the first $250,000 in income